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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

If you can't be good, be careful.

I'm more than a little obsessed with this track at the moment. I've only ever been able to find 4 tracks by Sir Lord Comic, and this is one I don't have. Catcher (I think it was) once asked about songs we'd like to use in a movie soundtrack, and this is absolutely one, for me.

Anyway...When I first met David he lived in an older apartment building, with an unfinished attic. We used to escape from roommates up there, there was an old couch, not much else. But somebody had scrawled in large letters across the wall "Trust in god, but take some care yourself." Always stuck with me, somehow. Anyway. With the New Year coming up, have you ever heard a strange or surprising piece of advice, or received it from an unusual source? Did you heed it?

In the 80s i lived on the "frontline" (as it was nostalgically called) in Steel City and spent much time with the children of people who had come over on the Windrush , and after, and chat seemed to be a constant string of fantastic sayings / proverbs / advice - here's a few of me faves:* Dance a yard befar you dance abrard *You never miss de water till de well run dry*If you cyarnt hear yu muss feelIt was an education , even as a 22 year old to suddenly hear all this language and really have to strain to get it. Thing is Steen , Sir Lord Comic was one of the artists that regularly got played by the old guys who played Dominoes in the back room of the blues - all night you could hear the click-clack of the dommies as we played pool and danced (Do you know "Django Shoots First"?)From me own Yorkshire upbringing I'd offer the Shakespeare quote used by most parents to stop their kids ruin:* Never a borrower or lender bebut me fave is :"See all, hear all, say nowt".Happy Wednesday.

Not advice as such, but this from a London cabbie as I was ranting about getting stuck late at work at a job I hated (and thus missing half the Marianne Faithfull gig he was driving me to): "You're a long time dead, mate."

And yes, I did heed it: applied for drama school, got a place, left job. Didn't lead to fame and fortune but has certainly done more to enrich my life in other ways than the soulless office job I gave up.

Bishbosh has made me realise didnt answer whether "heeded" the advice:* As far as the borrowing / lending goes managed to stick with it until late 20s when both gremlin-ites were on the scene when all financial rules went out the window(my 20s that is , not THE 20s)* "see all , hear all , say nowt" really mentioned in light of relations with the powers that be regarding industrial disputes coming to massive head in 83-85 when thee Strike kicked off - police went round looking for perpetrators of "industrial sabotage" and "extremist leaders" and it was crucial to keep stumm...no grassing.* as for the other 3 - well umber 2 is probably clear to all but i'll leave Spillers to ponder the other 2 , needless to say the first one I have tried hard to follow...@Bishbosh - reminds me of half-time talk my co-coach gave to U19s recently and when centre half moaned he was knackered already he retorted "You can sleep when you're dead". Make the most of every minute .

Was there really a band called The Bible? Holy smoke. (Get it?) Wow, they're very 80s, ain't they?

For Ali...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cgVRwITAfY

BishBosh, that's very good advice, indeed, and I like your story about heeding it, as well.

I have heard Django shoots First, Gremlin, and like it very much. It's strange how little there is by him out there, in all the places I can think to look, anyway. And you reminded me of a song, too...

"There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing" is one I've learnt from living in Scotland for a decade, and which I recite in my head before I even think about whinging about the weather.

The whole cake/eat it thing too, that one is a good un too - when applied to matters of the heart/pants.

@steen and shoey: Ah, "Honey Be Good" - swoon! Not sure why, but I have two copies of it on 7". One of my all-time favourite songs (that's probably why!). And "King Chicago" on the B-side is almost as good. The Bible were fab - and lead singer Boo Hewerdine is still doing top work (often with Eddi Reader these days).

@gremmy: Definitely with you on making the most of every minute - but sometimes we all need someone to give us a kick up the arse! Sounds like your co-coach is one such great motivator (as I'm sure are you).